THE EYEBROW

The days following a birthday, a person will usually tell you that they don't fell (older/matured/different/better/worse/etc.). In many ways i'd agree. In a few, i'd have to disagree.

Most noticeably is the sudden spike in male attention. (I see that look of skeptical amusement! Stop snickering, buster!) Not much, but more. I'm not kidding. I kinda wish I was. If you've heajoiaweiioopklds:K~KLmkm!!!!!!!!!JHUYI!

Whew. Deep breath. Sorry about that, I had the sudden realization that a nefarious ladybug (the horror novel with a polka-dotted cover) was taking the Hannah's Arm Highway inside my shirt. Right, back to the pheromones.

If you've heard my Creepy-Big-Lots-Guy Story you understand that I don't attract the finest examples of heroic manliness. Instead of shining knights, I tend to be winked at by the glutinous evil Baron who collects vices and owns the profitable business that builds towers to lock maidens into...only unshaven, undeniably creepsome, and with a thick accent. Every male that has shown interest in me up to my sixteenth was more attracted due to my accessories than my personality because i'm often carrying one or more small sisters who are mistaken for my children, making me appear to be a unmarried 20-something who seems like an easy target. 

Its not like I invite this attention. I dress modestly, I usually don't wear makeup, my hair is either pinned up with a sharpie or pulled back in a elastic, and I wear a sweatshirt just about all the time with enticing logos such as "Miami" or "Red Wings". What i'm saying is that i'm not the best dressed chick on the block. So why the sudden attention?

It actually started on my 16th. My mom and I were venturing out of our den of homework to pick up some dinner from PriceChopper, our local grocery and weird people observatory. We were talking as we drove into the parking lot when I noticed a derelict guy standing in the bed of a pick-up truck and waving around what looked like a screwdriver. (Beats me!) We drove past, he looked in the window, and dropped his arms. The pair watched like vultures while we circled the lot and parked. Trying to ignore them, I stepped out of the car, burying my hands into the kangaroo pouch of my over-sized red hoodie. The weirdo fist-pumped and high-fived his buddie, still watching as Mum and I snickered and went in the store. 

I figured they'd be long gone by the time we checked-out, but no. We stepped back out and the white-boy gangsta wannabes started back up the staring contest while trying (and failing) to subtly flex their muscles, their "Be grateful...i'm not dead." t-shirts waving in the breeze. Trying not to laugh, I got into the car and avoided eye contact. As we pulled out of the parking lot, steaming chicken in hand, I sneaked a look. The delinquents were leaning out of the back of the truck and waving their screwdriver in a last attempt. 

Yes, they were creepy. Yes, they were not people i'd like to likely meet. But, they were my age, which is new. And, despite their intense fail, they were still better than beardy Muslim dudes. Or the "winkers". Basically, i'm 70% revolted, 20% amused, and 5% flattered. I'm also 5% bad at Math. 

The another thing that stood out to me was the very friendly, very long-haired pony-tailed Greek guy that gave me the eyebrows during a nature walk today. Ya' know, those eyebrows. The same eyebrow twitch that you'd give while appraising an unexpected chocolate bar, a wordless "Hey, Babe." Like this:

Only...not as attractive. This eyebrow makes me want to rush out and bathe in expensive David Beckham cologne. The Greek guy's made me want to take scissors to his ponytail. 

SO, basically, long story short (though I technically just made a short story long), i'm a teensy bit satisfied that the recent attention I've gotten had nothing to do with appearing to have children and it came from people under 20. I also want to carry mace and hair-cutting implements. But hey, i'm an optimist. 

Now that I think about it, all of the guys who have expressed interest recently have used "The Eyebrow". Interesting...

Nighty-Night, don't let the creepers bite!

-Hannah

Photo Inspiration: Eyes

Another inspiration to me are eyes; I love eyes. They truly are the windows to the soul. They convey a array of emotions and come in a rainbow of colors. Whenever I'm doodling (usually in math class) I draw eyes everywherere. Big eyes, human eyes, anime eyes, etc. They are fascinating.

You know eyes have to be important because thats what people look at when they talk to each other instinctively. We don't stare at their ears, or hands, or hair; its always the eyes. Its always made me curious.

 

Anyway, here is my ode to eyes: 

• Of your entire body, the muscles that move your eyes are the strongest.

• The #1 cause for blindness in adults in the U.S. is diabetes.

 

• The older you are, the less tears you produce.

• Often in eye operations Sharks eyes are used because their corneas are very similar to that of the human eye. 

• All babies have blue eyes that will later change into their normal eye color

• Colored or patterned contacts are made and often used by actors and cosplayers. 

• When you are lying you often look to the left, however when recalling a memory you will look towards the right. 

• Sailors once thought that wearing a gold earring would improve their sight.

• Most people will blink 12 times per minute.

• Some Asian women have plastic surgery to give them wide, "European" eyes. 

• Your eyes are the same size throughout your life even though your nose and ears never stop growing. 

• When you see something you like, your pupils widen. In other words, there are a lot of wide pupil-ed girls watching Charlie McDonald. 

Photo Inspiration: Ballet

Sitting here at the wet windowpane and watching the rainy forest, I've been considering what inspires me. People, clouds, rain, eyes, art, light, etc. One thing that really inspires me, without fail, is dance. In particular, pointe ballet. I was in ballet for several years and while I was waiting to be picked up after class, I'd sit at the window of a classroom and watch the older students learn pointe. I admired the elegance, the beauty, the frustration of learning pointe; its an art that requires sacrifice to perfect. Personally, I think that pointe is a major art form right up their with oil painting, sculpture, and charcoals. This is one of my inspirations: 

"To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking." ~Agnes De Mille

"Dancers aren't made of their technique, but their passion."

"Dancers are the athletes of God." ~Albert Einstein

"Why do I dance?.....Why do I breathe?" ~anonymous

Dance is a little insanity that does us all a lot of good." -Edward Demby 

"We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams."

"Dance can give the inarticulate a voice."~Pamela Brown 

"Dance first. Think later. It's the natural order."~Samuel Beckett 

Classical ballet will never die.
Ninette de Valois

Dancing is a way of life.

Thousands of emotions well up inside me through out the day. They are released when I dance. *Abraham Lincoln* 

Dancers are the athletes of God." ~Albert Einstein